Liam Clifford, the chief executive of Global Visas said: “The astonishing response clearly sees people taking this opportunity to tell Government why they left and to register their feelings. They believe they have no choice but to seek a better life elsewhere.”

Over 40 per cent of those polled cited job prospects as the main reason for leaving, and 21 per cent listed the cost of living in Britain. The country’s economic outlook was blamed by 13 per cent, who saw it as poor. Just over 11 per cent cited the overall tax burden in the UK.

Over half of the respondents earned between £20,000 and £100,000 and over 40 per cent earned between £20,000 and £50,000.

Australia was the top destination for those who took part.

Mr Raab explained that he was keen to seek current statistics on the reasons for people leaving the UK, in order to inform government thinking.

He said he was struck by the fact that the poll showed what he described as "an exodus of middle class Britons" at the same time as figures showed the number of foreigners claiming benefits in Britain has jumped 40 per cent in four years to more than 400,000.

“Although emigration dipped last year, a Boeing 747 of Britons still left the country each day,” noted Mr Raab in a post on his blog.

“According to a 2011 World Bank report, Britain has the highest share of its population per capita living abroad than any other developed country.”

He said the survey showed that the expat lifestyle is no longer “the preserve of diplomats, and those working for big multinationals or in financial services”.

Instead, he said: “The ‘squeezed middle’ are increasingly amongst those searching for a better life abroad. That is economically draining, because they are net contributors of tax, and provide skills the economy needs. Equally, the hollowing out of the middle class risks exacerbating the social divisions of an hourglass economy.”

Mr Raab called for action including stimulating the private sector to create jobs, an overhaul of tax rates for middle-income families, cuts to government spending and tighter monetary policy.